Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM503: Foreign Policy Decision-Making

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

This module will aim to:

To introduce you to key concepts in political psychology and rational choice theory.
Apply these concepts to contemporary international issues.
Provide you with an understanding of the psychological opportunities and barriers faced by key decision-makers, as well as how employing a rational choice framework can help governments design effective policies.
Provide you a dynamic learning environment.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the effects of psychological factors in foreign policy and international relations and basic concepts from rational choice theory 2. Use substantive and methodological tools of analysis to critically interpret current global challenges
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. Critically analyse empirical and theoretical material 4. Synthesize competing theories in order to apply them to novel social science problems
Personal and Key Skills	5. Self-organization under time pressure 6. Demonstrate critical thinking skills, particularly as they relate to evaluate empirical evidence

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

introduction to key psychological concepts in foreign policy and international relations,
decision-making models,
decision-making in times of crisis,
introduction to rational choice theory,
strategies for political leaders across different regime types,
the role of public opinion and leader motivations in coercive foreign policies.

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	278

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	22	11 x 2 hour seminars. These will primarily consist of guided discussions where topics can be explored further through debate.
Guided Independent Study	66	Reading texts for class
Guided Independent Study	37	Preparing questions and answers based on weekly readings
Guided Independent Study	45	Preparing small group op-ed
Guided Independent Study	100	Essay preparation
Guided Independent Study	30	Preparation for and completion of written take-home assignment

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Other materials and resources will be identified by the module convener in lectures and/or via ELE.